Free dental care on Valentine's Day

For many, dental insurance is a luxury
that is simply out of reach. But for one day a year, a Lake Charles
dentist makes healthier
teeth accessible for everyone.

The gift of good teeth extends beyond mere looks — it can make people feel better about their appearance and their overall
sense of self, according to Dr. Harry Castle, owner of Oak Park Dental. Every year, Castle and his team give away brighter
and healthier smiles for the good of the community.

“The amazing thing was the response. The thing I saw was the change in people,” Castle said. “They had no self-confidence,
they were down and out. Once you repair someone’s teeth, you wouldn’t believe what a difference it makes.”

Castle and his office are doing well by
any medical office standards — appointments are consistently booked
throughout the
day. Giving away care is not a clever marketing scheme drummed up
to bring in more patients, insists Castle’s employees. Castle
said that most of the patients he sees every Valentine’s Day he
only sees on Feb. 14 — the day of the giveaway.

Every year on the evening before Valentine’s Day people brave winter weather and begin lining up to be seen by Castle and
his crew. For the low, low price of free, the team of dentists and hygienists give all patients who come in that day their
choice of a cleaning, an extraction or a filling. Some 150 patients are expected to be seen by Castle’s crew that day.

“It’s not a leisurely day,” Castle said. “We probably work harder on that day than any other day of the week. But it’s just
so great to be a part of something so big.”

For the nine hours the office is open
that day, the team of five dentists and five hygienists will see
patients non-stop.
Co-workers go in shifts, giving each other a chance to run out and
grab lunch to bring back to the office. And while Castle
may be king of the office, he is not the only good Samaritan. All
five of the dentists working that day will be donating their
time.

He said the choice to give away dental work — which he has done for 12 years on Valentine’s Day — was not arbitrary. “That’s
just a day of love,” he said. “It’s just a good day to show how we care.”